Dispensing means



May 24, 1966 w. R. SCHOLLE DISPENSING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WILLIAM RS040;

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5 Sheets-Sheet 5 E u 6 R H mm A NS E 1 MR M M l- H May 24, 1966 w. R. SCHOLLE DISPENSING MEANS Filed Dec. 16, 1963 530A?) WA MM4 United States Patent 3,252,634 DISPENSING MEANS William R. Scholle, Long Beach, Calif., assignor to Scholie Container Corporation, Long Beach, Calif., a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 330,702 14 Claims. (Cl. 222-514) This invention relates to means for dispensing contents of packaged liquid materials wherein the packaged material is disposed in a flexible plastic container which in turn is adapted to be disposed in a rigid paperboard outer container or carton such as one composed of corrugated board.

More particularly the present invention relates to novel single use spigot means for dispensing the contained liquid which may for example be milk, water, fruit juices and the like, for household use, in an incremental manner. That is to say, the spigot means which is of relatively simple economical construction may be disposed of with the container when the contents thereof have been dispensed.

The dispensing means of the present invention is particularly adapted for storage and dispensing of liquids as aforesaid from a refrigerator wherein the entire assembly may be disposed and contents dispensed as desired or when the occasion requires.

In general the assembly of the present invention as employed comprises a paperboard container having disposed therein a plastic bag of synthetic resinous sheet material such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like, substantially filling the confines of the outer container and itself substantially filled with the liquid to be dispensed, the assembly being of a size which may be readily disposed on a shelf of a household refrigerator. The paperboard container is provided or formed with an aperture through which the characterizing spigot of the present invention, which is attached to the flexible liner, extends for dispensing purposes The characterizing spigot of the present invention as initially provided may comprise a spout or tubular mem her having a flange extending outwardly thereof at one end and secured thereby to provide a conduit through a communicating aperture and may be provided by the vendor with a cap such as a screw cap engaged to the threaded outer end of the tubular member before use.

For use this screw cap is replaced with a second tubular member adapted for telescopic engagement with the first and which forms the dispensing spigot therefor as will he hereinafter described in greater detail. In lieu thereof, the second tubular member may be supplied by the vendor to the consumer in telescopic wedged engagement with the first tubular member.

The components of the spigot are suitably formed of molded plastic such as flexible polyethylene, polypropylene and the like, and in one embodiment the two telescoped components of the spigot may be retained in wedged telescopic frictional engagement.

In another specific embodiment of the present invention, or in addition to the foregoing, the two telescoped components of the spigot may be retained in yieldable engagement by resilient means such as for example a flexible band, spring, or clamp.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention, its details of construction and arrangement of parts and economies thereof will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG 1 is a fragmentary section of a paperboard container having a flexible liner bag therein, the characterizing spigot of the present invention being secured to the flexible liner bag and extended through the outer paperboard container.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the spigot shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 with the paperboard container rotated degrees.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of the assembly shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a section similar to that of FIG. 4, absent the resilient containing means holding the two components telescopically engaged as in FIG. 4 and additionally showing finger-hold means on one of the components for facilitating reciprocation.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing a progressive dispensing position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one resilient means for holding the components of the spigot in yieldable engagement, i.e. a rubber band.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the spout secured to a flexible liner bag disposed within a paperboard container having a closure cap engaged thereto in lieu of the second tubular component of the spigot.

FIG. 9 is a modified form of construction and is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but wherein the second tubular component of the spigot embraces the first instead of being disposed therein as in FIGS. 1 to 6.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal section of the form of spigot shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a further modified spigot construction illustrating the employment of a helical spring in lieu of the rubber band shown in previous figures.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal section through the spigot of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a similar longitudinal section wherein the second tubular member embraces the first rather than being disposed within the first as in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal section of a spigot construction similar to that of FIG. 12, having modified resilient means, namely a spring-urged clamp, for holding the components of the spigot closed as shown.

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 with the spigot open.

FIG. 16 is an elevational view of the spring clamp employed in FIGS. 14 and 15.

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 10 indicates the base or bottom of a paperboard container and reference numeral 11 indicates the side wall thereof. Disposed within the paperboard container generally indicated as 12 is a flexible liner bag 13 filled with liquid generally indicated as 14.

A first tubular member or spout component 15 has an integral annular flange 16 which is secured as by heat sealing to the flexible liner bag 13 about an aperture thereof to provide communication for the contents of the liner bag from the liner bag 13 to and through the spout portion 15.

As shown in FIG. 8 this spout or first tube portion 15 can be provided with threads 17 adjacent its outer open end to which there can be engaged the closure cap 18. In use when such closure cap 18 is provided, the vendor of the filled receptacle replaces the closure cap with a second tubular member 19 which in FIGS. 1 to 6 extends telescopically within the hollow of the first tube 15 and is best shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. This second tube 19 has an open end portion 20 and an outer closed end portion 21 which suitably projects beyond the periphery of the tube 19 and either per se serves as a finger gripping portion or hand-hold, or which may be additionally provided with elevatable flexible finger gripping loops 22-22.

The second tubular member 19 is further provided with an aperture 23 in the periphery thereof so that when the tube 19 is extended outwardly of the tube 15 a path is provided for dispensing the liquid contents 14 from the liner bag 13 through the outer tube 15 and the inner tube 19 and through the aperture 23.

The two components 15 and 19 may be retained in wedged engagement in closed position to seal the aperture 23 and to prevent the flow of liquid outwardly by means of a frictional wedging engagement as provided by the tapered shoulder 24 beneath the closure 21 on the tubular member 19. That is to say, when the components 15 and 19 are telescoped to their maximum extent the outer peripheral lip portion 25 of tubular component 15 comes into frictional wedging engagement with the tapered portion 24 of the tubular component 19 to form a tight seal.

The spigot may be employed as such, that is to say a twocomponent structure with the spigot portion 19 disposed within the spigot portion and actuated by wedging the two together or bringing them out of wedged engagement for alternately shutting off and dispensing of the liquid content 14.

As an aid in retaining the two components 15 and 19 in engagement, or that is to say, for preventing their disengagement, the inner end of the tubular member 19 is provided with the projecting annular shoulder 26 which is adapted to abut against the shoulder 27 within the first tubular component 15.

As an aid in initially disposing the tubular component 19 within the first tubular component 15, the tubular component 19 is formed with one or more axial slits or slots 28 whereby the inner end of the tube 19 may be compressed so as to by-pass the annular anchoring shoulder 26.

As an aid in yieldably retaining the components 19 and 15 in telescoped engagement and for insuring prevention of accidental leakage in .use and for rendering the operation of opening and closing the spigot more positive, I employ resilient means such as for example a rubber band 29. As shown in FIG. 8, this rubber band may be initially stored prior to use beneath a plurality of spurs 30 projecting outwardly and formed adjacent the base of the component 15. As shown in the drawings of FIGS. 1 to 10, four such spurs are employed spaced 90 degrees from each other and thereby providing two engagement positions. In use the flexible band 29 is removed from its storage position as shown in FIG. 8, looped about a pair of spurs 30 at one end and at the other looped about the recess 31 in closure end portion 21 of tubular member 19. This tends to retain the tubular members 15 and 19 in maximum telescoping relationship and with the aperture 23 covered by the outer edge portion of the tube 15.

Grasping of the finger-hold portions 2222 facilitates withdrawal of the tube 19 from the tube 15 to a position where the aperture 23 is uncovered as shown in FIG. 6, against the action of the rubber band and upon release the resilient rubber band brings the tube 19 to maximum telescoped relationship within the tube 15 so as to seal off aperture 23 and prevent further discharge. Sealing here also is aided by the wedging of the portions 24 and 25.

FIGS. 1, S and 6 may be considered to be views wherein the assembly rests on the bottom wall 10 of a container so that the aperture 23 opens downwardly. In some instances it may be desired to place the container on one side and this is illustrated by FIGS. 3 and 4 which may be considered to be a top plan view and a longitudinal section thereof respectively. For this purpose, in order to assure that the aperture 23 remains open downwardly the resilient band 29 is moved from one opposed pair of lugs 30 to another pair so that there will be no tendency to rotate the tube 19 within the tube 15. Otherwise, the operation remains the same.

The operation of the modified form of FIGS. 9 and 10 is the same as that previously described, except that as previously mentioned with respect to the brief description of the figures, the second tube 19 is engaged outwardly of the first tube 15'. In this case for purpose of anchoring the two components together to prevent accidental disengagement,the tube 19' is provided at its open end with an inwardly extending annular anchoring shoulder 32 which is adapted to anchor or abut against the annular projection 33 formed on the outer periphery of the inner tube 15'.

In the forms of FIGS. 11 and 12, in lieu of the resilient rubber band 29, coil spring 34 is employed for urging the two components of the spigot together, the spring being anchored at one end beneath the annular flange 35 and at the other beneath the protruding gap or finger-hold member 36.

It will be seen that the section of FIG. 12 has an inner tubular member 19 as in the case of FIGS; 1 to 6 and likewise an outer tubular member 15.

FIG. 13 which also employs a spring is otherwise similar to the form of FIGS. 9 and 10 wherein the first tubular member 19" is disposed within the second tubular member 15".

The modified form of FIGS. 14-16 shows a springurged clamp for actuating of a spigot of the arrangement similar to that of FIG. 12, namely wherein the tube component 19 is telescopically disposed within the outer tube component 15, the inner tube component 19 having a head or'handle portion 36 and a flange'portion 35. For holding the tube component 19 telescoped within the outer tube portion 15 whereby'the latter covers the dispensing opening 23, a spring actuated clamp generally shown in FIG. 16 is provided. This comprises a pair of arms 37, 37 terminating at their upper ends in the finger-hold portions 38, 38 and having disposed and secured between the arms 37, 37 a coil spring 39 which tends to urge the arms 37, 37 away from each other and the lower arm portions 40, 41 toward each other.

The portions 40, 41 are generally in the form of U- shaped members each terminating in a pair of legs extending toward each other such as the legs 42, 42 and the legs 43, 43. The U-shaped character of the portions 40, 41 are such that the U-shaped portion 40 embraces the tube 15 adjacent its flange portion 35, and the U- shaped portion 41 is such that it can embrace the handhold portion 36. For better gripping, the member 40 is provided with the legs 42, 42 which firmly engage the body 15 at two diametrically opposed points, and in a similar manner the member 41 grips the portion 36 by means of its legs 43, 43 at opposed points.

Thus, for actuation of the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1416, ordinarily the spring pressed clamp shown in FIG. 16 tends to hold the spigot closed as shown in FIG. 14. By pressing the handle portions 38, 38 together against the action of spring 39 as shown in FIG. 15, the members 40, 41 are caused to spread apart and to thus draw the tubular component 19 outwardly of the tubular component 15 to the extent that the dispensing opening 23 becomes exposed. 38, 38 causes the parts to be drawn together and to again cover the dispensing opening 23.

Although I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the details thereof without departing from its scope as comprehended by the following claims.

I claim:

1. Dispensing means composed of thermoplastic material comprising a flexible container, a spigot including a first tubular member, a flange extending outwardly of said member at one end thereof heat sealed to and securing said member to said flexible container and to provide a conduit for the latter through a communicating aperture, and a second tubular member having one end in telescopic engagement with the first at the outer end being formed with an aperture adjacent said end closure,

Release of the handles and separate externally disposed means for yieldably retaining said tubular members in telescoped relationship whereby said aperture is covered by said first member.

2. Dispensing means composed of thermoplastic material comprising a flexible container, a spigot including a first tubular member, a flange extending outwardly of said member at one end thereof heat sealed to and securing said member to said flexible container and to provide a conduit for the latter through a communicating aperture, and a second tubular member having one end in telescopic engagement with the first at the outer end thereof providing a common conduit therewith, a closure on the opposed end of the second tube, said second tube being formed with an aperture adjacent said end closure, and resilient separate externally disposed means for yieldably retaining said tubular members in telescoped relationship whereby said aperture is covered by said first member.

3. Dispensing means composed of thermoplastic material comprising a flexible container, a spigot including a first tubular member, a flange extending outwardly of said member at one end thereof heat sealed to and securing said member to said flexible container and to provide a conduit for the latter through a communicating aperture, and a second tubular member having one end in telescopic engagement with the first at the outer end thereof providing a common conduit therewith, a closure on the opposed end of the second tube, said second tube being formed with an aperture adjacent said end closure, and separate externally disposed means for yieldably retaining said tubular members in frictionally wedged telescoped relationship whereby said aperture is covered by said first member.

4. A spigot composed of thermoplastic material comprising a first tubular member, a flange extending outwardly of said member at one end thereof for securing said member to a flexible container of thermoplastic material by heat sealing it thereto and to provide a conduit for the latter, and a second tubular member having one end in telescopic engagement with the first at the outer end thereof providing a common conduit therewith, a closure on the opposed end of the second tube, said second tube being formed with an aperture adjacent said end closure, and resilient separate externally disposed means in anchored engagement with and extending between said tubular members for retaining them in telescoped relationship whereby said aperture can be alternately covered and uncovered by said first member.

5. Dispensing means composed of thermoplastic material comprising a flexible container, a spigot including a first tubular member, a flange extending outwardly of said member at one end thereof heat sealed to and securing said member to said flexible container and to provide a conduit for the latter through a communicating aperture, and a second tubular member having one end in telescopic engagement with the first at the outer end thereof providing a common conduit therewith, a closure on the opposed end of the second tube, said second tube being formed with an aperture adjacent said end closure, and resiiient separate externally disposed means in anchored engagement with and extending between said tubular members for retaining them in telescoped relationship whereby said aperture can be alternately covered and uncovered by said first member.

6. The dispensing means of claim 5 wherein said resilient means is a spring.

7. The dispensing means of claim 5 wherein said resilient means is a flexible band.

8. The dispensing means of claim 5 wherein the resilient means is a spring-urged clamp.

9. Dispensing means composed of thermoplastic material comprising a flexible container, a spigot including a first tubular member, a flange extending outwardly of said member at one end thereof heat sealed to and securing said member to said flexible container and to provide a conduit for the latter through a communicating aperture, and a second tubular member having one end in telescopic engagement with the first at the outer end thereof pro viding a common conduit therewith, a closure on the opposed end of the second tube, said second tube being formed with an aperture adjacent said end closure, resilient separate externally disposed means in anchored engagement with and extending between said tubular members for retaining them in telescoped relationship whereby said aperture can be alternately covered and uncovered by said first member, and handhold means on the outer face of said end closure for reciprocation of said second tube.

10. Dispensing means composed of thermoplastic material comprising a flexible container, a spigot including a first tubular member, a flange extending outwardly of said member at one end thereof heat sealed to and securing said member to said flexible container and to provide a conduit for the latter through a communicating aperture, and a second tubular member having one end in telescopic engagement with the first at the outer end thereof providing a common conduit therewith, a closure on the opposed end of the second tube, said second tube being formed with an aperture adjacent said end closure, resilient separate externally dispose-d means in anchored engagement with and extending between said tubular members for retaining them in telescoped relationship whereby said aperture can be alternately covered and uncovered by said first member, and anchor means on one of said tubes adapted for abutment with complementary anchor means on the other of said tubes for preventing their accidental separation.

11. Dispensing means composed of thermoplastic material comprising a flexible container, a spigot including a first tubular member, a flange extending outwardly of said member at one end thereof heat sealed to and secu-r ing said member to said flexible container and to provide a conduit for the latter through a communicating aperture, and a second tubular member having one end in telescopic engagement with the first at the outer end thereof providing a common conduit therewith, a closure on the opposed end of the second tube, said second tube being formed with an aperture adjacent said end closure, resilient separate externally disposed means in anchored engagement with and extending between said tubular members for retaining them in telescoped relationship whereby said aperture can be alternately covered and uncovered by said first member, said second tube being formed with axial slots of limited length extending to its open end to facilitate projection thereof into telescopic engagement with said first tube.

12. Dispensing means composed of thermoplastic material comprising a flexible container, a spigot including a first tubular member, a flange extending outwardly of said member at one end thereof heat sealed to and securin-g said member to said flexible container and to provide a conduit for the latter through a communicating aperture, and a second tubular member having one end in telescopic engagement with the first at the outer end thereof providing a common conduit therewith, a closure on the opposed end of the second tube, said second tube being formed with an aperture adjacent said end closure, resilient separate externally disposed means in anchored engagement with and extending between said tubular members for retaining them in telescoped relationship Whereby said aperture can be alternately covered and uncovered by said first member, said first tube being formed with external threads for engagement of a threaded cap thereover absent the second tube.

13. Dispensing means composed of thermoplastic material comprising a flexible container, a spigot including a first tubular member, a flange extending outwardly of said member at one end thereof heat sealed to and securing said member to said flexible container and to provide a conduit for the latter through a communicating aperture,

and a second tubular member having one end in telescopic engagement with the first at the outer end thereof providing a common conduit therewith, a closure on the opposed end of the second tube, said second tube being formed with an aperture adjacent said end closure, resilient separate externally disposed means for yieldably retaining said tubular members in telescoped relationship whereby said aperture is covered by said first member, and means on said first tube adjacent the base thereof for anchoring and storing said resilient means.

14. Dispensing means composed of thermoplastic material comprising a flexible container, a spigot including a first tubular member, a flange extending outwardly of said member at one end thereof heat sealed to and securing said member to said flexible container and to provide a conduit for the latter through a communicating aperture, and a second tubular member having one end in telescopic engagement with the first at the outer end thereof providing a common-conduit therewith, a closure on the opposed end of the second tube, said second tube being formed with an aperture adjacent said end closure, resilient separate externally disposed means in anchored engagement with and extending between said tubular members for retaining them in telescoped relationship whereby said aperture can be alternately covered and uncovered by said first member, handhold means on the outer face of said end closure for reciprocationof said second tube, and means on said first tube adjacent its base for anchoring said resilient means in a plurality of positions at one endand separate means on said handhold for anchoring said resilient means at its opposed end.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner. 

1. DISPENSING MEANS COMPOSED OF THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE CONTAINER, A SPIGOT INCLUDING A FIRST TUBULAR MEMBER, A FLANGE EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID MEMBER AT ONE END THEREOF HEAT SEALED TO AND SECURING SAID MEMBER TO SAID FLEXIBLE CONTAINER AND TO PROVIDE A CONDUIT FOR THE LATTER THROUGH A COMMUNICATING APERTURE, AND A SECOND TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING ONE END IN TELESCOPIC ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FIRST AT THE OUTER END THEREOF PROVIDING A COMMON CONDUIT THEREWITH, A CLOSURE ON THE OPPOSED END OF THE SECOND TUBE, SAID SECOND TUBE BEING FORMED WITH AN APERTURE ADJACENT SAID END CLOSURE, AND SEPARATE EXTERNALLY DISPOSED MEANS FOR YIELDABLY RETAINING SAID TUBULAR MEMBERS IN TELESCOPED RELATIONSHIP WHEREBY SAID APERTURE IS COVERED BY SAID FIRST MEMBER. 